UPDATE...

Well they've posted Group Results.....

I finished the race in 1 hour 29 minutes and 17 seconds...AND I WASN'T LAST!!!!! I walked across the finish line last but my time was faster than 3 other people!!!!!!!!!

:)

My TRI!!! ICanTri.Info (I Tri'd and will Tri Again!)

Well here we go. I'm posting these (against better judgement) because I'm very proud of my accomplishment and really just have to show the real me. I've super fat (I think the term medical professionals use for someone of my size is "morbidly obese") but part of this journal is to show my progress. I started at 292 lbs on May 14, 2009 and my race was yesterday, September 12, 2009. In 16 short weeks I've lost 40 lbs. and 12 of those weeks trained for this Triathlon. My goal was always to "just finish". I came in last place, which some might see as failure, but this was the single largest accomplishment of my life so far and I will not be sorry for finishing last. I FINISHED and am so proud of that!

The emotions were very high at the end - I cried. A fat girl - a really fat girl - finished a triathlon - ME - I FINISHED A TRIATHLON!!! I think that makes me a "Triathlete"!!! :)

I will set more goals for myself and will meet those goals as well. Please keep reading and encouraging me.

I have to post about the biggest support I've had - my sister, Katie. She has been the most inspiring and uplifting person and friend anyone could dream of. I would have given up on this dream a week prior if she and Robert (my beloved B-I-L) wouldn't have completely believed in me and told me they knew I could finish it - no matter how slow or hard it was - I could finish! I love them both dearly and will never forget their love and support of me.

Here come the pics - YIKES!

I FINISHED!

Well it's over! I finished. I'm very proud of myself.

I'll post pictures as soon as I have them (Aunt Ang & Mom took pictures today and I have to be patient for them). :)

Thanks again for reading!

Traci

p.s. DOWN 40 LBS!

SCALES SAY DOWN 40 LBS. - SINCE MAY 15...NOT TOO BAD.

well it's TOMORROW!!!

I'm so nervous I can hardly stand it.

IN IT TO FINISH....is all I can say right now.

Thanks for reading - I'll post pictures and info tomorrow!

~ Traci

swim...bike...run...

well i did all 3 yesterday.

I was at the pool by 6am...only swam a half hour - but I practiced well some of the new techniques Katie showed me. Then last night I biked 4 miles and ran/walked 2 more.

My left calf had a funny muscle spasm yesterday - hope it doesn't happen today too.

I got up this morning to DO IT AGAIN...but walked in at the pool and it was totally dark - they don't open on T/Th until 10am (for their new fall hours) - WHAT KIND OF POOL (it IS run by the YMCA but it's our high school natatorium) DOESN'T OPEN UNTIL 10AM???????

I was cute yesterday - here's a pic (new dark dress jeans - 2 sizes down)

Run, Traci, Run!!!

Well - I decided to go "brave" (as my name means) and run the sidewalks today. Anyone that knows me - knows that's a risky thing to do - seeing how clumsy I am. But I did it - with no accidents!

The school track was holding me back - I've been doing up to 300 meter runs/100 meter walks for 3 miles - but today - I didn't have any guides - I ran till I couldn't run anymore - then I walked the rest of the way home.

I drove the exact route, after dropping Alec off to school, and it was a total of 1.8 miles and I had ran 1.2 of it - STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it?

I'm AMAZING! At least to myself.

Thanks for reading. ~Traci

Katie's Tri

My sister, Katie, had her first Triathlon yesterday (8/22/09). It was so exciting to be there with her. She was so inspiring and I cried while she swam it was so beautiful! I'm unbelievably proud of her and can't wait 'til we do our race in Akron in 3 short weeks!

Here's a video of her swimming - it's amazingly beautiful!

Down 36 lbs in 3 months!

Well it's been a while since I've updated....

I was down to 256 this morning on the scales. I ran/walked 300/100's last night and did well. I'm super excited about my progress.

I wasn't ready for the Richmond race - but have one planned for Sept 12 here in Ohio ( http://www.hfpracing.com/events/2009/akron-women-only-triathlon )

Here's a picture of me - TODAY. I can feel a difference and people are mentioning "seeing" a difference - I don't notice it so much though.

I think 100 more lbs and I'll be looking PRETTY GOOD!!!

Thanks for reading ~ Traci

OUCH.

Ok - still complaining...Knees (yes now both) hurt. Still using Ibuprophen like its candy. I did get new shoes though - AWESOME new pink Asics running shoes. I'm wearing my orthotics with them and hope it will help in a few days.

Running, bursitis and possible broken foot

Ok - so someone is against this race - they must know something GREAT is going to come of it...

I ran with Sarah on Tuesday - I've been doing 30/30's (or 100 meter run then 100 meter walk on and off for 2 miles)...she had me doing 1/1's (full minutes - 200 meters on/off)!!!! We had a 1.5 total run/walk. Hopefully I explained that well enough.

Well I'd been having a little bit of knee pain for a couple days prior - but after that - I've been in serious pain. I'm sure it's just bursitis and I'm just hoping by changing things up a bit and letting it heal that I'll be able to get back to it soon. I took Wed, Thur, Fri off. Tried swimming this morning - did 18 laps (1/2 mile) but with severe pain. Rested the rest of the day and am not doing too awfully bad tonight - except for the possible broken foot from falling down the last 5 steps this morning - I heard a crack! I'm able to walk - but I can bend it very well. It's between my arch and big toe on the bottom.

I WILL NOT GIVE UP - GREATNESS 'WILL' COME OUT OF THIS!

7 miles and a running partner.

I rode 7 miles on the AirBike the other night. Wasn't too bad...EXCEPT for the sore butt!!!

SO on to this running partner. I have a past client, just had a baby a few months ago, named Sarah. She's training for a Tri also!!! She and her husband, Ken, are doing the Piqua Triathlon on September 13th ( http://www.findaraceevent.com/ViewRaceDetail.aspx?raceId=6232 ). She saw my posts on Facebook and asked if I wanted to walk/run with her!!! I'm super excited. I don't like being alone (I think it's a cancer thing) and she and I get along really well.

We start tomorrow - I meet her at 9am at her house. Different track than I'm used to - should be interesting!

Stationary Bike

On my way to pick up a stationary bike that I'm borrowing from a client. Funny story...I sold a house to some people in 2006, the day we closed we went over to the house to check things out and when we got their the Seller was still their moving out!!! She was supposed to be completely moved out prior to closing (my Buyers got immediate possession). My buyers asked the seller to leave the property, they were not going to let her take anything else out of the house. One of the items that got left behind was a nice stationary bike that has never been used since. I'll borrow it for a couple months to help train for the 11 mile bike portion of my Tri. Biking tonight! :) I'll post a picture later.

HERE WE GO!!!

Well, here I go. I decided this week I would sign up for a Triathlon. I've been running this week (making it a mile run with additional walking) and really enjoying it. I had my "Ah Ha" moment (as Oprah calls it) last night and cried for about 1/2 my run. Tears of joy for finally deciding to lose weight. This Triathlon will be a huge challenge but I'm a "Cancer" and will complete it because I say I will! :) I'd love to hear comments, feedback and encouraging words whenever possible.

Here's my "starter" pic. I'll be posting progress reports, journals and pictures as I go along this exciting, scary, hard journey!

~Traci

Winter 2009 - 292 lbs.

(I can't believe I just shared that!)

Art Festival

Picture of Alec and his art in the Wooster City Schools Art Festival. His art was chosen to participate in the show.

I'm very proud of him.

Alec's Cub Scout Auction Cake

They had a cake auction at cub scouts tonight. We (I) made an alligator cake today and expected to have to buy it back tonight - but it sold for $35!

Enjoy.

New Moon in...

New Moon Movie and Twilight News

NEW MOON - TRIBE

Ok - my sisters will love this...

Here's a picture I found (fan created) of the New Moon cast...I did some research and found who will be playing each part...these are just the "tribe/pack members".

Here's a couple of my favorite sites...lots of info and pictures of the new sets and filming, etc.

http://www.newmoonmovie.org/

http://www.mtv.com/search/?searchterm=new+moon&requiredfields=mtv_st%3Avideo

Here's the actor to play Caius... http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1608104/story.jhtml

Here's the actress/model to play Heidi...

http://www.reelmovienews.com/2009/03/noot-seear-cast-in-new-moon/

New Video

Laura's 4th Birthday!

Well my neice, Laura, had her 4th birthday this week. Here's a few pictures. I had SO MUCH FUN!!! I think I need a little girl to call my own.

They made their own party/princess hats.

Here's Hailey and Laura.

Me and my tiara - I had to join in too.

My sister made the Barbie Princess cake - it even has eatable glitter on the icing!!!

Then they made their own miniature Barbie cakes.

New baby Andrew

Our neweset nephew - Andrew. 1st picture is of him with his Nana (Sharon).

J.D. and Aunt Traci

Well Mark's nephew and his family came up for "A's" birthday party - here's a picture of J.D. and I waiting to eat cake. He's such a sweet boy and we love him so much.

Lighting his own candles

Well I guess he's old enough now to light his own candles. This was his second party for his 7th birthday (as you can see it's not a full cake). He got the stomach flu later this night and we had to cancel party #3 for the next day. I can't believe how big my baby has gotten. I love him more every day. I'm more proud of him than I can put into words.

Chia Shreck

"A's" Chia Shreck from Christmas. :)

Pinewood Derby

Here he is working on the car (painting some parts green).

Well we didn't win any awards but we had a lot of fun!

His car is the 2nd from the left - green aligator skin - he named it "The Alec-Gator".

Here's "flower room" that "A" and I submitted today for the Webkinz contest...